Unique school playground unlocking little lives

Hamish, 6, is just one of the children who benefit from the playground at Aspect South Coast School. Pictures: CHRISTOPHER CHAN

Confidence gained in the playground can change the lives of students at Aspect South Coast School, writes CYDONEE MARDON.

A playground is a place for climbing, sliding, swinging, falling down and getting back up again.

Not much thought goes into this ritual of play, for most kids it just comes naturally.

For a child on the autism spectrum, however, that very same space with its ladders, bridges and slippery slides is so much more.

It holds the key to these children making it in the "real world", a world that doesn't always play by their rules.

Leanne McConville has seen for herself the miracle of play and what a modest climbing bridge can do for a child like six-year-old Riley.

"A playground built specifically with children on the autism spectrum in mind is not simply just a place of fun, as most people would imagine," Mrs McConville said.

'The playground builds skills and confidence. This confidence carries over to all aspects of their life.'

Her son attends Aspect South Coast School at Corrimal, where the playground, although rusty and run-down, is a vital learning tool.

"At the playground our children learn the ability to tolerate other children playing around them, and learn to wait their turn," Mrs McConville said.

"They also learn how to actually use the equipment and the importance of playground safety.

"Many of our children have no sense of fear or safety, for themselves or others."

A day at the park can be a daunting and frightening experience for mums and dads of children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

"The playground at the school helps parents feel confident to brave a public playground with their beautiful children, a simple pleasure many of us take for granted."

Riley, 6, learns about safety and how to play with other children at the playground.

The Corrimal-based school caters for children from the age of three and nine months, helping them to develop skills to become as independent as possible.

Aspect South Coast School principal Bruce Rowles said an upgraded and updated playground was critical to the education program. The cost is $110,000, a hefty price for a not-for-profit organisation like Aspect.

"We aim to give our students the skills they need to enjoy all the things we take for granted like being able to climb and swing," Mr Rowles said.

"Our children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder, for many reasons, find these tasks either impossible or exceptionally daunting.

"The playground provides a safe secure environment for the students to learn the skills they require to enjoy a park with friends and family."

Mr Rowles said many students did not have sufficient body awareness or adequate coordination to gain the benefits of a regular park.

"The playground builds skills and confidence. This confidence carries over to all aspects of their life."

Mr Rowles said community support for their campaign had been overwhelming, with Savvy Fitness donating proceeds from its Summer Survivor charity event to the playground campaign.

Aspect school principal Bruce Rowles has been overwhelmed with support from the community to upgrade the ageing playground.

The next key fund-raising event is the Autism Dinner supported by the City Motors Group at the Novotel on Friday April 4.

Mrs McConville, and the close-knit group of parents from the school, would do anything to help.

"This school has just been so wonderful for Riley," she said.

"Since starting school, Riley has learnt things most children take for granted.

"As well as the usual development in the Key Learning Areas, Riley has also learnt how to manage his sensory needs, cope in a classroom setting, turn-take, share, play, communicate, follow instructions and most notably, learnt to talk. If he wasn't one of the lucky children who gained a placement at Aspect, we would hate to think where he would be now, and what his outcome would be."

ASD: lifetime disorder of communication

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a lifelong developmental disability that affects, among other things, the way an individual relates to his or her environment and their interaction with people.

The word ‘‘spectrum’’ describes the range of difficulties that people with ASD may experience and the degree to which they may be affected.

Some people may be able to live relatively normal lives, while others may have an accompanying learning disability and require continued specialist support.

The main areas of difficulty are in social communication, social interaction and restricted or repetitive behaviours and interests. People on the autism spectrum may also have: